Occupancy Agreements

Tower 1, 2, 3, 154 Haven Ave., 50 Haven Ave., and Georgian residents sign a Columbia University occupancy agreement, which outlines the terms and conditions for living on campus.  Residents are responsible for understanding and complying with all of the information outlined in the agreement. 

The occupancy agreement is signed during the room renewal process for returning residents and during the housing offer acceptance process for new residents via the housing portal and DocuSign. 

Please review the 2022-2023 occupancy agreement prior to applying to housing. 

Occupancy Agreement Signing

All occupancy agreements are signed via DocuSign in the Housing Portal during your room renewal (returning residents) or housing offer acceptance forms (new residents).  New and returning residents should check their emails for information on when to sign the occupancy agreement. 

  • If you are moving into couples housing, please email our team the appropriate couples housing qualifications documentation and couples access ID form, along with any required photos before your arrival.
  • If any children under 10 years old will be living in the apartment, notify us beforehand.

Occupancy Agreement Renewal Eligibility

All occupancy agreements expire on May 31 and can be automatically renewed with a standard increase on June 1, for an additional one-year term.

Students

  • Eligible residents must maintain full-time status in the same degree program. Fourth-year medical students who match at CUIMC can remain in on-campus housing for an additional year and will be relocated to a studio apartment in Tower 3 or 154 Haven, if available. Matched medical students who are already living in couples housing may stay in the same apartment for the additional year. All residents must be in compliance with the terms and conditions of the occupancy agreement.
  • New residents must pay a non-refundable $500 commitment fee to accept their housing offer. The $500 will be applied to your first months housing charges. If you cancel housing more than 30 days before your move-in date, you will receive a refund of $250.  If you cancel housing less than 30 days before your move-in date, you will not receive a refund.  

Postdoctoral Research Fellows and Scientists

  • Postdoctoral research fellows and postdoctoral research scientist must maintain full-time status in order to continue residing on campus. Postdocs are limited to Columbia University housing for a period of either five years or the duration of their postdoctoral appointment, whichever is shorter. This includes the amount of time that you may have been employed as a postdoctoral research fellow or postdoctoral research scientist in any Columbia University division.

  

Occupancy Agreement Renewal Process

Students

  • Offers to extend a lease agreement are normally emailed to you in April/May, with start dates of June 1.
  • Residents are responsible for the housing charges throughout the term of their agreement, including the summer months. If you expect to be out of town for the summer, you may consider subletting your apartment. Residents of 50 Haven Ave. and Georgian Building cannot sublet their units.
  • If you don't renew your occupancy agreement and want to apply for CUIMC housing at a later date, you'll have to reapply and will be placed on a waitlist for continuing students.

Postdoctoral Research Fellows and Scientists

  • Offers to extend a lease agreement are normally emailed to you in April, with start dates of July 1.
  • Residents are responsible for the rent throughout the term of their lease, including the summer months.
  • If you expect to be out of town for the summer, you may consider subletting your apartment.

Questions about your occupancy agreement?

The Office of Housing Services is here to help! Email housingservices@cumc.columbia.edu or call 212-305-HELP (4357), option 2.

Email the Office of Housing Services